Irish duo part company with Carlton

St Mochtas player Ciaran Byrne is stretchered off during the IFC final against St Fechins at the Grove after suffering a leg injury.

Louth's Ciaran Byrne and Galway's Cillian McDaid have left the Carlton Blues.

The Melbourne club confirmed that the pair have decided to end their AFL careers at the ages of 23 and 21 respectively.

Byrne was contracted to the Blues until the end of 2019, but informed the club of his intentions to return home just over a week ago. He came off the bench for St Mochta's in their Louth IFC final victory over St Fechin's yesterday and scored a point, only to be stretchered off with an injury later in the game.

It goes without saying that the return of Byrne and McDaid is a big boost to Louth and Galway as they turn their thoughts to the 2019 season.